All Episodes

October 28, 2025 12 mins

Ever feel like your dream is floating just out of reach—beautiful, but foggy and far away? In this episode, we bring it down to earth with a grounded, sensory practice: writing a Day in the Life of your Wildest YES Life through all five senses. Because when you can see it, hear it, and feel it, your brain starts wiring it as real.

This isn’t about fantasy—it’s an energetic rehearsal for the future you’re creating. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between imagination and memory, so each vivid detail becomes a cue that builds confidence and momentum.

Now it’s your turn: What does a day in your Wildest YES Life look like? Where do you wake up? What fills your day with purpose and joy? Write it like it’s already happening—and let it become your blueprint for the life you’re calling in.

Courage doesn’t wait for readiness. It meets you in the daily discomfort.
And that’s where your magic begins.

Subscribe for more episodes of The Confidence Shortcut, where we turn daily discomfort into big breakthroughs. Share this with a friend who needs a nudge, and drop a review with your 72-hour action: What brave step will you take today?

If this conversation sparked something, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, then subscribe and leave a quick review so more creatives find their courage faster. Ready for more? Grab the free Confidence Kickstart in the show notes and get first dibs on my book, "The Confidence Shortcut" when it launches in December 2025, sign up below to be the first in line. 

Be the 1st to know when The Confidence Shortcut Book launches in Dec!

Follow The Confidence Shortcut on Facebook

Follow NIKI STERNER:

On Instagram 

On TikTok

On Facebook

On LinkedIn

On YouTube


New episodes every week — packed with honest conversations, mindset tools, and real-life shortcuts to help you silence your inner critic, build true confidence, and take bold action.

📌 Subscribe + share if you're ready to stop overthinking and finally move forward.

💛 For freebies and updates, Join The Confidence Shortcut Community

Grab your free Confidence Kickstart Guide.


Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:01):
Welcome to the Confidence Shortcut, the podcast
for ambitious creatives andentrepreneurs who are ready to
stop overthinking, take boldaction, and finally step into
the life they've been dreamingabout.
I'm your host, Nikki Stirner,mom, actor, comedian, and
producer.
After years of playing small andwaiting to feel ready, I went on
a courage quest and found ashortcut to confidence.

(00:22):
Each week, I'll bring you realstories, simple steps, and
conversations with experts inmindset, courage, and
confidence, plus heart-to-heartswith fellow creatives who are
turning their dreams intoreality.
It's time to get unstuck andstart showing up.
Let's dive in.
Hello, welcome to the ConfidenceShortcut Podcast.

(00:42):
I'm your host, Nikki Stirner,and this is season two, episode
six, a day in the life of yourwildest, yes, life.
Hello, brave one.
Welcome back.
If you've been following alongin season two, you know we've
been on a journey ofrediscovering your dreams and
aligning with your biggest,boldest self.
So let's recap where we've beenso far.

(01:03):
Week one, you became a dreamdetective, exploring where you
are now and what you trulydesire in the four key areas of

your life (01:10):
health, relationships, career, and
creative expression, and fun andadventure.
And in week two, you createdyour three S lists.
Now, what are those?
Those are your star lists,someone to admire and reverse
engineer their life.
Who did you look up to when youwere younger?
Your scared list.
What have you said no to in thepast because of fear?

(01:31):
And your success list.
These are your receipts.
This is where you've beensuccessful in the past.
We did that because we wanted touncover patterns and clues from
your past.
In week three, you studied yoursuccess star models.
These are the people alreadyliving versions of your dream
life and reverse-engineeredtheir paths to create your soul
goals and action steps.

(01:52):
We broke it down into thingsthat you could do today if you
wanted to.
All right.
In week four, we got grounded inyour core values, your compass
for clarity and alignment toknow that when you get what you
want, is it actually truly whatyou want?
And does it align with who youare and what you stand for and
what you believe in?
In week five, you dreamedwithout limits.

(02:12):
You defined your wildest yeslife, the 100x version of your
dream that calls you forward,the one that feels impossible,
that's almost cringy to say outloud.
That is the wildest yes life.
And now, here we are today, weeksix, with a day in the life of
your wildest yes life.

(02:32):
Now, why does this step evenmatter?

Here's the truth (02:35):
you can't become what you can't see.
All right.
If your dream still feels vagueand far away up in the clouds,
it's because your brain hasn'tyet built the neural pathway for
it.
So this exercise brings yourfuture self into the now.
Okay, because the moment you cansee it, feel it, smell it, taste

(02:57):
it, and hear it, yoursubconscious starts looking for
ways to make it real.
This is all about embodiment,not just thinking about your
dream, but living inside of itevery day.
So today I'm gonna share my dayin the life of my wildest yes
life.
Not because I want you to wantmy life, but because I want you

(03:19):
to see how specific, sensory,and soul-aligned this can become
when you really let yourselfdream out loud.
My new book, The ConfidenceShortcut, is almost here.
And I want you to be among thefirst to know when it goes on
sale.
This isn't just a book, it'salso a journal and a calendar
that walks you through the exactprocess I used to go from

(03:42):
over-preparing and stuck inperfection to finding my voice
and using it on stage inrelationships and in business.
When you sign up, you'll getearly access updates,
behind-the-scenes bonuses, andfirst divs when the book goes
live in December.
Don't wait.
Sign up at the link in the shownotes and be the first to know
when the confident shortcut isavailable.

(04:06):
All right, so this is mine.
Here we go.
In the morning, I'm talkingabout alignment and energy.
So I wake up in our home by theocean.
The sound of the waves rollingin through the open windows.
The light is golden and warmacross the sheets.
Before I even move, I take aslow deep breath in and whisper,

(04:29):
thank you.
I sip my microbiome pink drink,take my supplements, and light
my peace and calming essentialoil candle that I made.
The scent fills the room.
It's soft, grounding, peaceful,with hints of citrus.
And immediately I feel connectedto myself and to something

(04:51):
bigger.
I open my journal and write for10 minutes, braindumping a to-do
list, sketching out ideas for mynext book, or lyrics for a new
song.
This is my sacred creation time.
It's quiet, inspired, alive.
Then I step out onto the sand.

(05:11):
The ocean greets me like an oldfriend.
I walk barefoot, feeling thecool earth beneath my feet.
Turn tuning into the energy ofMother Earth and the universe.
I ask, what is my highest pathfor the day?
And I listen.
Movement follows.
I move my body.
I'm weightlifting, stretching,walking on the beach.

(05:35):
I feel strong, radiant,grounded, alive.
When I shower, I listen to my Imove before I feel ready, guided
audio.
It turns on my brain.
It tells me, it informs myidentity.
I move before I feel ready.
This is who I am.
This is what I do.
I turn the water to cold for 10seconds.
This is my daily discomfort.
Reminding myself that courage isbuilt in small, consistent acts.

(05:58):
Because if I can do the thingsthat I don't want to do, I can
do anything.
And I talk about my midday, talkabout my purpose and expansion.
Lunch is my favorite.
This is when I refuel my body.
A fresh salad with tomatoes,cucumbers, grilled chicken.
It's simple, it's nourishing.
It's exactly what I need.

(06:19):
Then it's showtime.
Today I'm flying out for amultimedia tour to promote the
confidence shortcut TV show.
This series is transforminglives across the globe, helping
people face fear, take action,and chase their wildest yes
dreams.
It's bringing hope back intohouseholds.
First up, the Kelly Clarksonshow in Los Angeles.

(06:42):
Kelly and I laugh.
We talk about courage.
And then we perform together.
We sing a song from myBroadway-bound musical
adaptation of my One Woman showabout courage.
The audience stands, they clap.
Someone's crying in theaudience.
It's one of those electric, fullcircle moments.

(07:02):
Then my husband and I, he'sinvolved in the business and my
biggest supporter.
So we fly to New York City forinterviews on Good Morning
America, the Today Show, and theDrew Barrymore show.
My assistant keeps everythingrunning smoothly.
I couldn't live without her.
She's amazing.
And between appearances, I hostcoaching calls and business
meetings, pitching new projects,scheduling tours, expanding

(07:25):
partnerships.
I'm living my mission.
Ideas come to me constantly, andI'm constantly moving with them
because I know how to takeaction now.
My voice, my art, my message,they're all in harmony.
Proof that courage, whenpracticed daily, creates
miracles.
When I speak about my evening, Italk about the magic and the
gratitude.
We check into a five-star hotelin Midtown Manhattan, floor to

(07:49):
ceiling windows overlooking theglowing city, the lights.
It's elegant, it's peaceful,it's alive.
This week, I'm hosting SaturdayNight Live.
So tonight, I head to Studio 8Hfor sketch rehearsals, table
wreaths, costume fittings.
The air is buzzing withcreativity and laughter.
I make room for play in my lifeevery day because it fills me up

(08:12):
and magnetizes theseopportunities.
I'm surrounded by brilliantpeople doing what they love.
I feel completely in my element,joyful, brave, and grateful.
Later, back at the hotel, I kickoff my sparkly, comfy shoes and
order dinner.
Something healthy, colorful,delicious.
Soup.

(08:33):
It's comforting.
This vegetable chicken soup.
It's delicious.
I eat slowly, replaying the dayin my mind.
Every moment of laughter,connection, and courage.
I draw a warm bath with lavenderessential oils and magnesium
salts.
I slip in.

(08:53):
I let my body exhale.
I listen to my bravethen-bed-guided audio, letting
the affirmations andvisualization carry me into
gratitude.
Outside, the city hums, aliveand full of promise.
And as I climb into bed, Ithink, wow, this is it.

(09:13):
This is the life I dreamed aboutwhen I was scared to dream.
Tomorrow brings the Today show,Good Morning America, Broadway
rehearsals, Jimmy Fallon, andlater this week, SNL.
And I'm ready.
That was my day in the life ofmy wildest yes life.
And now it's your turn.

(09:34):
What does a day in your wildestyes life look like through your
five senses?
Bring it to life.
Where do you wake up?
What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you smell?
What do you feel?
What fills your day with purposeand joy?
What do you put here to do?
What do you love doing?

(09:56):
Write it like it's alreadyhappening.
Because your subconsciousdoesn't know the difference
between imagination and memory.
The moment you imagine it, youstart creating it in your
universe.
Let this be your blueprint, yourenergetic rehearsal for the life
you're calling in.
Because remember, couragedoesn't wait for readiness, it

(10:17):
meets you in the dailydiscomfort.
And that's where your magicbegins.
My book, The ConfidenceShortcut, is almost here.
Wanna be first in line when itgoes on sale in December?
Sign up at the link in the shownotes to get early access,
bonuses, and launch day alerts.
Don't wait.
Be the first to know.
Courage.

(10:37):
On purpose every day.
All right, this was us creatinga day in the life of your
wildest guest life.
So take time to reallyexperience it, feel it, dream
bigger.
This is that 100x part of youthat's just waiting to come
alive.
And when you dream it and speakit and feel it into existence,

(10:58):
it starts to come into yourorbit.
It starts to be attracted intoyour life.
You start to see opportunities.
You start to meet it halfway.
It meets you in your vision.
So this is where we're goingtoday.
All right, you guys.
Until next time, I want you tohave that miracle mindset to

(11:19):
invite in the magic.
Stay brave, stay grounded, andkeep saying yes to your wildest
yes life.
Thanks so much for listening toThe Confident Shortcut.
I hope today's episode wokesomething up in you, reminding
you that your dream matters andyou can start now.
If this sparked something, shareit with a friend who needs it

(11:39):
too.
And don't forget to follow me onInstagram at Nikki Stirner and
join our Facebook community atThe Confidence Shortcut.
Ready to take the next step?
Check out my free guide, TheConfidence Kickstart, linked in
the show notes.
Keep showing up.
Keep taking action.
And remember, the shortcut toconfidence is courage.
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

The Burden

The Burden

The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.